NuVision ProVu P2 DLP/LED Projector (TPV 98)

Targeted to the custom integration market, NuVision’s ProVu P2 1080p DLP projector dispenses with the traditional UHP bulb in favor of a trio of high output LEDs to light the way

USER INTERFACE

On Screen Display
Calling up the menu places the OSD on the upper left corner of the screen, which displays sub-menus that are logically grouped, so that you can get where you want to be without a lot of hunting around. The info screen provides details about the projector’s status, including operating hours, input signal characteristics and the like. While not as fancy-looking as some other OSD designs, it gets the job done just fine.

But, while the P2 provides adjustments for gamma, white balance and full (18 point) color management, it isn’t possible to adjust for color or tint (hue). The adjustments appear in the image menu, but for HD sources, they’re grayed out. This is just 100% Grade A dumb. Especially since the default value for color saturation is somewhat over the top, giving an extra dollop of color intensity that’s impossible to rein in.

Why on earth this should be is a complete mystery. Especially since Vivitek, the maker of the comparable H9080FD and who is the vendor to NuVision for the P2, does provide for color saturation and tint with their virtually identical model. It’s made all the more frustrating because NuVision’s own marketing lingo for the P2 on their website clearly states the following:

“Along with Hue and Saturation controls, NuVision’s ProVu P2 allows for individual color luminance for textbook perfect reproduction.”

While the latter part of the statement is true (re: the 18 point CMS adjustment capability), the first part of it is patently false with regards to HD sources. The P2’s owner’s manual does come with a disclaimer that points out the inability to adjust color and tint for HD sources, but the very similar Vivitek P9080HD appears to have no such limitation.

Remote Control
The projector ships with NuVison’s one-size-fits-all remote, and the remote features some buttons that are useful with some of their products, but not for the P2, including additional HDMI source selectors and lens adjustment buttons that won’t work here as the P2 has manual focus, zoom and lens shift. The remote is backlit, but given the intended market for the product, where the projector likely will be controlled by a touch panel automation system, the NuVision remote will probably see limited duty during setup, and then be forever tucked away in a drawer to be used only as an emergency backup.

RECOMMENDED SETTINGS

• Sharpness: Off
• NR: Off
• Color Space: Auto
• Overscan: Off
• Color Temperature: 6500°
• Brilliant Color: Off
• Adaptive Contrast: Off
• Dynamic Iris: Off
• Gamma: 2.5 (for a fully darkened theater; 2.2 if there’s some ambient light)
• 1:1 pixel-for-pixel mode: Native

PERFORMANCE

Blu-ray Evaluation: Inception

Detail
In the sidewalk café scene where the city explodes around Cobb and Ariadne, the flying debris that whirls around them is breathtakingly detailed, and speaks to the marvelous CGI capabilities that modern moviemakers have at their disposal.

Color
As mentioned earlier, the P2 lacks the ability to tame any excessive color richness, and here it’s sorely needed, as the movie’s color richness goes into overdrive with the P2 giving an emphasis that borders on the cartoonish. Cases in point are the numerous close-ups of Lenardo DiCaprio’s character Cobb. With the P2, his skin tone is over-emphasized to the point where it would appear that on his off hours Mr. DiCaprio spends far too much time hanging out with Jersey Shore’s Snooki at her favorite tanning salon. Ms. Page sports red lipstick that is similarly overly emphasized.

If only NuVision provided some way to adjust the color saturation…

Blacks
While the P2 features dynamic contrast enhancement and auto iris to up the overall contrast, there’s no practical need for either, as the P2 delivers wonderfully rich blacks without them, evident throughout the entire movie.

Shadow Detail
As some of the characters storm the fortress towards the end of the movie, it’s easy to see all of the detail, especially when they’re inside the maze of tunnels. No worries here, as the P2 does a fine job of serving up detail in these dimly lit scenes.

Artifacts/Noise
None noted.